Young artisan transforms Miao embroidery into modern fashion accessories

Liu Yongyi showcases traditional dyeing techniques. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

By carrying forward his family's legacy, 23-year-old Miao artisan Liu Yongyi is breathing new life into the age-old craft of embroidery.

As a native Miao, Liu's passion for embroidery was passed down through generations of women in his family. "Grandma's bird-embroidered jacket tells stories, and my mother's sash carries mountain ballads," he said. Today, he works in a 20-square-meter studio in Zunyi, Guizhou province, wearing traditional Miao attire as he traces ancient patterns onto freshly dyed fabric.

Liu blends practical use with artistic flair to create over 100 original designs, from car air fresheners and patchwork shoulder bags to embroidered brooches. His redesigned car air fresheners alone have sold more than 200 units.

Everyday items made from Miao embroidery techniques are displayed at a sales booth. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

While studying design at Hubei Polytechnic University, Liu focused on transforming folk crafts and exploring intangible cultural heritage in everyday life. In 2020, he cofounded Studio Shanzi. "Shanzi is the seed that takes root and sprouts in the mountains," he explained.

During school breaks, Liu traveled to rural Miao villages to learn from local embroiderers and collect folk tales that now inspire his work. "Intangible heritage shouldn't sit in a museum," he said. "It's a living poem. It belongs in our daily lives."

Liu safeguards quality and creates jobs by training more than a dozen embroiderers through a centralized design and decentralized production model. With orders growing steadily, he is proving that centuries-old patterns can thrive in modern markets.

Liu Yongyi and other artisans display Miao embroidery. [Photo by Nie Xun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Yongyi embroiders a fresh Miao design.[Photo by Nie Xun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Embroidered brooches inspired by traditional Miao stories. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]